Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
She’s downright giggly. “What the hell am I missing?”
“Nothing,” she says, struggling to hide her grin. “It’s just . . . I know it’s not for everyone. I wouldn’t even typically watch a show like that. It’s violent, and there’s lots of . . .”
“Motorcycles?”
“I was going to say guns.” She laughs again. “But motorcycles too. Anyway, it’s okay if you’re not into it. I can watch it by myself some other time.”
I set her on her feet and stand. Kissing her once and then twice, I say, “If you want to binge a show, we will goddamn watch any show you want.” I kiss her. “Let’s get dressed and head to my place to start this adventure so we can get back here to binge to your heart’s desire.”
“Give me about fifteen minutes. Do you think you could get Maxwell dressed?”
“I can,” I reply, feeling confident after the victory I had with the diaper. I bend down. “Max?”
He looks up and then says, “Dada.”
Pride fills my entire being. That’s my kid! I glance at Liv, who’s rolling her eyes. “I swear I did not teach him to say that.”
She bends over the counter and dabs makeup on her face. “I’m letting you off the hook on that one only because it’s kind of cute. But let’s discuss the Max part of this equation.” Bouncing a sponge off her face, she says, “I’ve always called him Maxwell because that’s his name.”
“But everyone needs a nickname. Well, Noah is about the only version of my name, but take you, for example. You’re Olivia by day and Liv by night.”
“First of all, everyone calls me Olivia except for a few people, so it’s not like it’s that common for me. Second of all, why do you make Liv sound so naughty?”
Waggling my eyebrows, I smirk. “Kind of is since sex was the purpose of the night you introduced yourself.”
“Shh.” Her finger flies to her lips, and she nods her head toward Max.
I chuckle. “I think we’ve got some time before he understands what I just said. Speaking of, Liv, you haven’t corrected me once in the past couple of days.”
Dusting her face with powder, she stops and looks at me in the mirror. “I was tired of fighting it. You’re a stubborn man, Westcott.”
I come up behind and smack her ass, the towel muffling the sound. “I’m not that stubborn. I just knew deep down that I brought out a side of you that you haven’t been in touch with in a while.”
She turns around, her arms looping my neck. Leaning back, she admires my face as she licks her lips, looking at mine. I’m getting hard, which is easy to do around her. She’s not subtle when she brushes her middle against mine, instigating this erection that I definitely cannot hide. “You see me, but I also see you, Noah Westcott. You’re the hotshot in the office, the playboy after hours, a last name that comes with prestige and a first steeped in family tradition. The golden boy, the all-American hero. You’re all those things, but I’ve seen beneath the surface.” Running two fingers along my lips, she seems mesmerized by them before kissing me.
“What do you see when you look at me, babe?”
“You’re the only one who bothers to ask how I am, the only one who came to the park to check on me despite how I treated you prior. You listen, really listen to people, not just the words, but you observe who they are as a person.” She tilts her head to the side, and says, “You make everyone around you feel special. Like they’re one of a kind, and every word they say matters.”
“You are special.”
“To you, and that’s more than I can ask for. So thank you for being exactly who you are.”
I’m a bit of a cocky ass sometimes, but she’s good with the compliments. My ego is fed, and I’m left grinning like a fool for her. “So I can call him Max?”
“Yes. You’re his dad, so if you want to call him a nickname, that’s your right.”
“Promise to tell me the truth?” When she nods, I smirk. “How do you really feel about being called Liv?”
“Truth?”
“Full truth.”
“I hated that I liked hearing you call me that name.”
The day feels easy, the hours short when I’m with her. I don’t want to weigh the morning down by making her uncomfortable, but I want to know so much about her. “Why’d you hate it?”
“Because the memories of the Hamptons always came with it.” Pushing me away, she adds, “Now go. Go before this gets too deep.”
“Going. Going.” Bending down, I pick up Max and head for the door. “Fifteen minutes?”
“Twenty at the most.” She starts adding pink to her cheeks.
“Hey, Liv?” When she looks at me in the mirror, I say, “You’re beautiful.” I tickle Max under his chin. “Right, Max? Your mom is beautiful.”